peterstride

Joined

• started 15 topics
• posted 488 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by peterstride

• 
  29

  Bericht 1034

  by Sue in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how many have read the report 1034 from nazi germany?.

  this was hitlers thought that jw's were preaching.

  the bible and not giving in to him as the rc's and other .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  peterstride

  I found my copy of the letter the society sent to the German government back in the 30s. But instead of posting the lengthy letter here, I'll just point everyone that's interested to Kent's website where he's gone a step further by posting:

  1. The English translation of the letter
  2. The original German text of the letter
  3. Scans of the actual letter sent to the German government.

  One other thing that jumped out at me when I read this letter was the WTS reason for why several of its members where put in jail in the US in the 1910s.

  In the letter to the German government, they say that they were put in jail because they weren't bowing to pressure from the US government to print anti-German propaganda in their magazines! Wow...

  To the rank and file members, the WTS says that they were put in jail because the religious leaders forced the government to do that...and that later they were freed and completely exonerated. As Nero Wolfe says...phoooey!

  But, the official court records (available in the US under the freedom to information act) paint a very very different picture as to the real reason they were put in jail...and also why they were actually released.

  Peter Stride
  Toronto, Canada
• 
  29

  Bericht 1034

  by Sue in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how many have read the report 1034 from nazi germany?.

  this was hitlers thought that jw's were preaching.

  the bible and not giving in to him as the rc's and other .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  peterstride

  Hi Had Enough,

  I'm at work right now, but when I get home, I'll find the URL on my computer and link you to it, as well as provide a copy of it in the boards.

  And, no...the WTS would not put that letter on their website since it would be very incriminating. Basically, the letter said that the WTS (meaning the Judge) stood squarely for the principles that the Third Reich stood for. Unbelievable...

  Peter Stride
  Toronto, Canada
• 
  29

  Bericht 1034

  by Sue in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how many have read the report 1034 from nazi germany?.

  this was hitlers thought that jw's were preaching.

  the bible and not giving in to him as the rc's and other .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  peterstride

  Hmmm...still no reply on this one.
• 
  11

  Free literature?

  by Andyman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i haven't been over here for a long time, looks pretty busy.. i am in a discussion on another board about the "donation" arrangement.

  the jw's claim "all" literature is free, and nobody id pressured into "donating" for what they take from the hall.. now in my old congregation that wasn't so.

  we were reminded all the time about "donations" and making sure we asked for donations in the field service.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  peterstride

  While I was still a JW, I often wondered why the WTS didn't help out people in countries that were really poor. I'm sure everyone remembers the experiences of faithfull brothers in Africa, sharing 1 magazine per 10 people, or one book per 10 people...oh...and also walking for 3 hours each way through crocodile infested rivers to get to meetings.

  I often wondered (as my older Watchtowers and Awakes were piling up in my closet), why didn't the WTS send them extra magazines so that everyone had one?

  Now I realize that the bottom line is money! Since the Africans have no money, they get nothing extra from the WTS.

  When the donation arrangement came into effect, I thought it was worldwide. My eyes were opened when I went to visit relatives in a couple of European countries in the early 90s. Guess what? They had to pay for them! They had not heard of the donation arrangement.

  The WTS likes to quote the bible, including Jesus words when he said "Pay Ceasar's things to Ceasar...", but in practice, they will jump at any tax loophole to avoid paying taxes.

  I wouldn't have as much a problem with it if they were truly helping poorer JWs (such as the ones in Africa)....and thus (in my mind anyways while I was still a JW) completing the above mentioned scripture which continued by saying "...and God's things to God."

  Also, I read something recently in the New York Times back in October. It was an article about the state of finances in the borough of Brooklyn. It was a small article towards the back of the paper.

  One official was commenting that their tax base seemed to be going down every year because the Watchtower and Tract Society kept buying up buildings in Brooklyn. Those buildings would normally bring in tax revenue (whether they were factories, hotels, or office buildings), but as soon as the WTS bought them, they became tax free. And on top of that, the WTS still expected the city to provide them with services that they were not paying for through taxes, burdening the rest of the tax paying citizens and corporations, and forcing cut backs in service to everyone because of tax revenue shortfalls.

  Wow...

  Peter Stride
  Toronto, Canada
• 
  29

  Bericht 1034

  by Sue in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how many have read the report 1034 from nazi germany?.

  this was hitlers thought that jw's were preaching.

  the bible and not giving in to him as the rc's and other .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  peterstride

  So, if I understand this right...just because Hitler didn't like the JWs, it meant they were the true religion?

  How about all the other groups of people that Hitler didn't like? Does that mean that they are all correct also, starting with Judaism since he went after them the hardest???

  Hitler was a nut that went after anyone that didn't agree with him. Just like Judge Rutherford who made it clear that he ran the organization and he would eliminate anyone not agreeing 100% with him. Except, in the Judge's case, he couldn't kill them...so he started disfellowshipping people.

  Have you read the letter that was sent to Hitler by the WTS shortly before HItler decided to go ahead and ban them anyways? It's a real eye opener.

  Peter Stride
  Toronto, Canada
• 
  3

  Actions I regret

  by Free2Bme in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i don't know about you but there are a lot of things i regret doing as a witness that i really would like to apologise to the people concerned.. to my brother flabbycabby who is a newbie to this forum i'd like to say sorry for following the elders advice and telling you you were not welcome over my doorstep.

  you were in a terrible state having just being disfellowshipped ,finished with your wife, estranged yourself from your baby son and a few days earlier had taken an overdose in my flat where you were staying as you were homeless.

  i had received a visit from the elders.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  peterstride

  I'm also guilty.

  As a faithfull "brainwashed" JW, the organization always came above personal friendships and family.

  At the time when someone needed help the most, we would turn our backs on them, justifying it in our mind that they were now baaaaad association.

  Our treatment of others, and especially if they were JWs that had fallen away from the "alleged truth", was very very inhumane while we were JWs. Nothing at all like the example set by Jesus.

  Actions I'll regret for the rest of my life,

  Peter Stride
  Toronto, Canada
• 
  17

  Any good movies lately?

  by Introspection in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  has anyone seen some of the movies that's just come out?

  evolution and swordfish looks interesting to me.. reviews?.

  "it is not so much that you use your mind wrongly--you usually don't use it at all.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  peterstride

  Hey, I love The Matrix too! I didn't realize they were making two more Matrix movies...and back to back too. Wow!

  Peter Stride
  Toronto, Canada
• 
  7

  WT May 1 & June 15, 2001

  by Defender in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the may 1 and june 15, 2001 watchtower issues have reading articles about helping widows through their trials and look after orphans and widows in their tribulation.

  both articles contain very healthful counsel, tips and recommendations to the grieving and needy and to those around them on how, and when to offer help and support.. the problem with these articles is not that the average jw or local congregation elders are not doing their part in helping out the needy.

  in fact, most individual jws are as compassionate and supportive as the average person.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  peterstride

  Very well said defender!

  Peter Stride
  Toronto, Canada
• 
  4

  All these years wasted...

  by paradix in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  it is lamentable to see like the years pass inside an organization that .

  he/she goes against what says the bible and leaving everything is so clear.

  we have meditated in because one can ignore what you leave from so far .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  peterstride

  Hi Paradix,

  I'm having problems understanding what you're trying to say. I realize that english isn't your first language, but if you could try to say what you said...but using different words and perhaps elaborating a bit more, I'll be able to understand you better.

  Love & peace,

  Peter Stride
  Toronto, Canada
• 
  25

  Pentecost 33CE What really happened.

  by biblexaminer in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  foreword.

  and if they were not in the "upper chamber" at pentecost, where were they?

  or is it "acts of the apostles"?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  peterstride

  Hey guys,

  I love reading all the research both of you have done and finding out new things about Jesus, Pentecost, etc...things that I would never find in the WTS.

  But, just because you guys disagree on various points...is that reason for name calling? Is that reason to say "I'm right and you're wrong"?

  Present your story and research. The readers of these posts will read and decide for themselves which is the more likely version of events. End of story.

  Love & peace,

  Peter Stride
  Toronto, Canada